Visit us and discover why our vibrant area is called "the heart of Maine" — with our wide variety of destination restaurants, art galleries, performances, and festivals. Or enjoy an outdoor adventure along the Androscoggin River. Centrally located, Lewiston/Auburn is less than one hour from the mountains, the seacoast, Portland, Augusta, & Freeport.

Visit us and discover why our vibrant area is called "the heart of Maine" — with our wide variety of destination restaurants, art galleries, performances, and festivals. Or enjoy an outdoor adventure along the Androscoggin River. Centrally located, Lewiston/Auburn is less than one hour from the mountains, the seacoast, Portland, Augusta, & Freeport.

Category Archives: General News

The LA Metro Marketplace is a showcase of the greater Lewiston Auburn area. Under one roof we will capture an inspiring representation of the many facets of our communities. As you explore the LA Metro Marketplace, you’ll be captivated by the number of world class products made here, the top notch services provided and overall how much we have to be proud of right here in our own area. Anyone walking into the Marketplace that day will leave with a positive image of our area

The purpose of the LA Metro Chamber Member Employee Scholarship Program is to recognize an employee of a LA Metro Chamber investor who has shown effort in advancing his or her education at the college level.

Scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded annually. The scholarships will be awarded directly to the recipient. One award will be made per individual, although the award may be divided to apply to two semesters of college work.

Eligibility. Applicants will…

Be employed 20 or more hours by an investor in good standing of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Begin course(s) within 6 months of receiving award

Be applying to or matriculated in college-level coursework applicable toward an Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Have a high school diploma or equivalent

Be at least 18 years old

If already matriculated, proof you are a student in good standing from the college you are attending

Deadline! The completed application and employer verification form must be received by May 4, 2018. Recipients will be notified by June 1, 2018 (recipients will be notified by mail/e-mail.)

Selected “Best in Show” and reproduced as 100 limited edition prints to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Kenneth Harvey, from Sabattus, Maine is a self-taught watercolorist. After working for a major corporation for 32 years, he retired to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist and paints primarily en plein air, mostly in the Boothbay coastal area of Maine.

The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Uplift LA and Northeast Charter & Tour are joining forces to brighten the holidays for local families in need.

From now until December 12 you can donate NEW toys and clothing, appropriate for children ages 0-18. All donations received will be distributed by representatives of Advocates for Children, Boys & Girls Club, Tri County Mental Health Services, Trinity Jubilee, Tedford Housing, Safe Voices, and Sandcastle Clinical & Educational Services and will stay within our community, assisting only local families.

Where can you make your donation?
*At the LA Metro Chamber, 415 Lisbon Street, Lewiston by December 8
*Drop off at one of our participating bus stops before December 11(List available here)
*Business After Hours at Lost Valley on Tuesday, December 12

The following is a list of awards to be presented at the annual dinner on Thursday, January 25, 2018

Eligibility:

Nominees must be members in good standing of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (individuals must be employed by a member e.g. owner, staff) or be an individual member.

Individual award nominations may not be active members of the LA Metro Chamber staff or Board of Directors.

Ray Geiger Chamber Champion AwardThe Ray Geiger Award is the highest honor given to a member by the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. It is our most prestigious award. It is given to an individual who has proven to be a champion of and for the LA Metro Chamber. The award is presented to an individual who has invested a great deal of time, energy, and resources into furthering the LA Metro Chamber’s mission and working toward bettering our communities.

Theresa Samson Women’s Business Leadership Award

The Theresa Samson Women’s Business Leadership Award honors a successful woman business owner or primary manager for her business success, career achievements and contributions to the community. Businesses led by women are and will continue to have a noticeable impact on the economy. This annual award helps inspire the continued growth of women leading businesses in our community.

Ken Additon Small Business Advocacy Award

The Ken Additon Small Business Advocacy Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to small-business advocacy above and beyond policies that specifically impact their own business or industry and a proven history of volunteer efforts to advance and improve the overall small-business community, as well as success in advocating for pro-small business policies and success and growth as a small-business owner.

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award honors outstanding individuals or organizations that give their time and expertise to the community, above and beyond their own field of endeavor, and demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in all they do. The recipient is an inspiration to the community, both in their profession and in their efforts to make the LA region a better place to live, work and play.

Business Leadership Award

A business, agency, organization, community or non-profit corporation, which has helped invigorate the economic health of the area while also contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual or physical well-being of the LA region.

The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) invites Maine artists to submit an original two-dimensional artwork to be selected for reproduction as a limited-edition print.

The creative direction is any two-dimensional image that represents a distinctive, classic, iconic theme, landmark, environmental or structural detail, texture, tone or representation of the LA region of today and tomorrow. Past examples of local iconic images are canals, skylines and streetscapes but visions of the future are encouraged. Works can be created in any medium; photography, illustration, paint, etc. that can be reproduced at a high-quality resolution. The maximum size of the finished piece cannot exceed 24” x 18”. Each piece should be titled.

USE OF IMAGE

Twenty pieces will be selected by a jury of Chamber board members, staff and local arts professionals for display at the Chamber’s 130thFête d’anniversaire on Friday, November 3, 2017. A cash prize of $700 will be awarded to the artist whose piece is judged “Best in Show” and that image will be reproduced as 100 limited-edition prints. The original will be framed and auctioned as part of a live auction and all other submissions will be displayed for audience judging and silent auction at the 130thFête d’anniversaire. A $300 cash prize for the “People’s Choice” award will be given at the event. Each piece should be assigned a value for sale following 50-50 gallery standards, including a minimum reserve. The Chamber will promote the names of each participating artist when marketing the 130thFête d’anniversaire. The reverse of the limited-edition print will feature text on the artist and their work. Pieces that do not meet their reserve for sale on November 3rd will be returned to the artist following the event.

APPLICATION PROCESS

DEADLINE = September 30, 2017. Work may be dropped off at the Chamber Office during business hours, Monday-Thursday, 8AM-5PM and Fridays 8AM-3PM. Eligibility is open to professional, practicing artists who reside in Maine. For more information contact Beckie@lametrochamber.com.

Last Friday, February 17, our board of directors concluded a 3-month search for a new President and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Rebecca Swanson Conrad will begin as our new President and CEO on March 27, 2017. The search process was extensive, generating over 50 applicants from across the country. Our 11-person selection committee led the search process, which included three rounds of interviews, with the final being in front of the entire board, extensive testing of the applicants, and thorough reference checks. We were thrilled with the tremendous interest in the position from a group of highly qualified applicants.

Rebecca Swanson Conrad is currently the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine where she has worked since 2006. She was co-owner with her husband of Austin’s Fine Wines and Foods for 20 years, and for 3 years owned and operated Rÿsen Home Garden & Antiques, a retail gallery promoting local art and products that supported international women’s economic development. Both shops were located in downtown Auburn. Prior to Rÿsen, Conrad’s career spanned 21 years in higher education administration at Bates College, including 1999-2003 when she served as executive director of LA Excels, the college’s non-profit community development partnership in Lewiston-Auburn focused on leadership, arts, educational aspirations and economic revitalization. She served on the Maine Arts Commission for seven years, with four as vice-chair. Volunteer board roles include chair of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council, past chair of L/A Arts and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, vice chair of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and as a board member of Advocates for Children, the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and the advisory boards of USM/LA College and Central Maine Community College. Conrad received her BA in English from Bates College and studied in the New England Studies MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Auburn with her husband Austin Conrad, Jr. and her cat, Charles Mingus.

The entire board of directors, and particularly our 11-member selection committee deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the time and effort they put into a very extensive search process. They were ably assisted by former board chair, Art Boulay of Strategic Talent Management.

The purpose of the Chamber Member Employee Scholarship Program is to recognize an employee of a LA Metro Chamber member who has shown effort in advancing his or her education at the college level.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded annually. The scholarships will be awarded directly to the recipient. One award will be made per individual, although the award may be divided to apply to two semesters of college work.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously won an Adult Scholarship from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Eligibility

Applicants will…

Be employed 20 or more hours by a member in good standing of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Begin course(s) within 6 months of receiving award

Be matriculated in college-level coursework applicable toward an Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Have a high school diploma or equivalent

Be at least 18 years old

Application Requirements

Scholarship application

250-300 word typewritten essay (see attached)

Completed employer verification form

Professional letter of reference/recommendation (more points will be given when the author is knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional work and/or collegiate work and speak to: motivation, financial need, aspirations, etc.)

Unofficial transcript or letter of acceptance for upcoming semester

Application MUST be complete to be considered!

Deadlines

The application and employer verification form must be received by May 5, 2017. Recipients will be notified by June 2, 2017 (Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail/e-mail.)

Tickets are available to purchase for our 2017 Annual Meeting, Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Ramada Inn, Lewiston.

Ray Geiger – Chamber Champion

The Ray Geiger Award is the highest honor given to a member by the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. It is the chamber’s most prestigious award. It is given to an individual who has proven to be a champion of and for the chamber. The award is presented to an individual who has invested a great deal of time, energy, and resources into furthering the chamber’s mission and working toward bettering our communities.

The winner is…Peter Chalke

Theresa Samson – Women’s Business Leadership

The Theresa Samson award honors a successful woman business owner or primary manager, for her business success, career achievements and contributions to the community. Businesses led by women are and will continue to have a noticeable impact on the economy. This annual award helps inspire the continued growth of women leading businesses in our community.

The winner is…Cyndi Robbins

Ken Additon – Small Business Advocacy

The Ken Additon Small Business Advocacy Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to small-business advocacy above and beyond policies that specifically impact their own business or industry and a proven history of volunteer efforts to advance and improve the overall small-business community. In addition, success in advocating for pro-small business policies and success and growth as a small-business owner.

The winner is…Michael Dostie

Icon Award

The icon award is a community person, business or organization that has truly become an icon in our community. This community icon will be immortalized forever with the creation of an actual icon to be utilized in the LA Metro Chamber’s branding.

The winner is…Simones Hot Dog Stand

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award honors outstanding individuals or organizations that give their time and expertise to the community, above and beyond their own field of endeavor, and demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in all they do. The recipient is an inspiration to the community, both in their profession and in their efforts to make the LA region a better place to live, work and play.

The winner is…Kora Shrine Center

Business Leadership Award

A business, agency, organization, community or non-profit corporation which has helped invigorate the economic health of the area while also contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual or physical well being of the LA region.

The winner is…Geiger

President’s Award

An individual or organization chosen by the chamber president for an outstanding achievement or recognizable contribution.

The winner is…Lewiston High School state champion soccer team

Outstanding Chamber Member Award

An individual or organization chosen by the chamber staff for their outstanding contribution to the chamber.

Visit us and discover why our vibrant area is called "the heart of Maine" — with our wide variety of destination restaurants, art galleries, performances, and festivals. Or enjoy an outdoor adventure along the Androscoggin River. Centrally located, Lewiston/Auburn is less than one hour from the mountains, the seacoast, Portland, Augusta, & Freeport.